Shoe last and method of making the same



Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,625

, E. M. FULLERTON SHOE LAST AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Fiied Dec. 15, 1926 fl i gn neg I jwvefilor Patented Get. 30, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST M. FULLERTON, 0F 'STOUGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE LAST AND METHOD 0L MAKING THE SAME.

Application filed December 13, Serial No. 154 410.

My present invention is a novel. and improved last for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and is particularly intended to reenforce the heel portion, and to afford a new and improved thimble construct-ion therefor.

My present invention is applicable to existing lasts, and is equally important and valuable in block lasts, hinge lasts, or any other type, and is directed particularly to the heel and thimble construction. Shoe lasts are necessarily made with a. metal thimble fitted in the bored recess in the heel portion on which the last and the shoe made thereon may be jacked during various processes performed in the manufacture of the shoe. A great many machine operations require that the last he fitted on a ack, which jack has a spindle over which the thimble is applied, and onto which the thimble is fitted. During the successive shoe manufacturing operations, the last and thimble are subjected to considerable pressure, hammering, tension. and the like, and very great stresses and strains are transmitted through the thimble and the heel portion of the last during such shoe making operation. Thus, in heel nailing, leveling, sole laying, etc., the wood of the heel portion is subjected to crushing strains which often loosen the thimble from the last. Furthermore, the continual tempering and drying of the soles impart an al ternate moisture and drying action on the wood which necessarily gives and takes somewhat in the drying, and this will fur ther tend to loosen the thimble from the last, and once the thimble becomes loose, it will drop out when the last and shoe are inverted to be applied to a jack. My present invention is directed to obviate these prior difli culties, to retain the last and thimble firmly together and prevent looseness,'and also with the added feature of strengthening and stiffening the heel portion of the last. In carrying out my invention I provide a standard type of thimble, preferably flanged such, for example, as shown in the prior patent to F. E. Benton, 1,140,850, issued May 2, 1916 With a thimble, and preferably a flanged thimble of the type of said patent, I may bore through the bottom of the same, and counterborethe last between the usual thimble bored recess and the bottom at the heel portion, and lit therein a bolt, or form the thimble with an added stem, said stem or bolt extending downwardly a sufficient length to receive a nut or headed bearing which, being set up tightly, holds and combines the heel portion of the wood of the last, strengthening-the same, and also holds the thimble firmly in.

the last, and prevents it from working loose. or dropping out, and which may be adjusted to compensate for wear. I

Further details, improvements and novel combinations will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed. ,7

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention,

. Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the heel portion of a last embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a thimble;

Fig. 3 is aside View of a tube utilized with the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a modified form of thimble, and l Fig. '5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the heel portion of a last embodying the structure of Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 1 designates the heel portion of the last, having the usual bored recess 2 therein from the top or cone of the last downwardly a suflicient extent to receive the barrel 3 of a last thimble. Preferably this thimble is formed with a flange 4: to bear on the top of the last, as is customary. Through the bottom of the thimble a suitable opening 5 is formed. In alinement with the recess 2 I form a continuing smaller, recess 7 extending downwardly adjacent to the last bottom, preferably, also. counterboring a recess 8 from the bottom inwardly. This continuing recess 7 is preferably of less diameter than that of the thimble recess 2 in order to aiford bearing shoulders 10 for the bottom of the thimble which, in addition to the flange 1, gives a firm seat for the thimble. In the recess 7 I it a tube 12, through which tube 12 I apply a bolt 15 of proper diameter to snugly fit therethrough, and with a head 16 to bear upon the inner bottom of the thimble. This bolt extends downwardly a sufficient extent into the counterbored recess 8 to receive a nut or head 17, the tube 12 being of appropriate length to fit snugly between the bottom of the recess and the counterbored recess 8 so that, when the nut 17 is set up tightly, the thimble, the bolt, and the tube 12 are in firm and solid engagement. Thereshoe manufacturing processes.

upon the usual heel clinching plate 20 is ap plied, thus covering and protecting the countel-bored recess and the nut and bolt.

The construction just defined gives a firm, strong union, strengthening and reenforcing the entire heel, and tending to prevent the crushing of the wood at the heel during the This binding at the heel portion has a substantially trussdike effect. on the heel. of the last, and besides effectually holds the thimble in all times, preventing it wearing loose and coming out. The nut 17 is also adjustable to compensate for wear, both in the wood and tube, which is an important feature. In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5 I have shown a special form of thimble having a barrel 20, the flange 21, and the integral extendin portion 22 being substantially the equiva ent of the bolt 15 in the form just described. This modified form of thimble thus carries its own bolt and extension, having the lower end of the same threaded, as at 23, to receive a correspondingly threaded nut 24 which is fitted thereon and which is also adjustable for wear. In this form I may apply the same to the last with or without a tube 12, and preferably, also, in this form of last I drill the thimbled recess out of solid stock, and mill down the stem 22. It will thus be seen that I have devised a novel,

simple, efficient, and improved last. construction, as well as a method of holding in the thimble while strengthening the heel portion with the truss-like binding effect, and also have devised a novel term of thimble with an extension permitting such binding action, and I therefore claim such device herein broadly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

An improved last having a thimble recess and a recess of smaller diameter in alinement therewith, the last bottom 'l'i-a'vin-g an enlarged counterbored opening in ali-nement with said smaller recess, a thimble having an opening through the bottom fitted in said thimble recess, a metallic tube of proportional length fitted in said smaller recess between the thimblerecess and said counterbored opening, a bolt fitted through'thetube and the opening inthe thimble, and retaining means on each end of said bolt, one bearing on the thimble bottom andthe other on said tube, one of said retaining means being removable and adjustable, in combination with a heel plate on the last bottom covering and protecting said counterbored recess.

In testimony whereof, I have signed any name to this specification.

ERNEST M. FULLERTON. 

